Books that Came My Way in September 2019

This is my monthly roundup of books that were added to my shelves in the last month. I also share an update with you on other things going on in my life.

Patrick’s cross country season is off and running…literally! He’s had two great first meets, placing in the Top 20 in both, and has his third this weekend.

We celebrated Homecoming last week. The pep rally is my favorite part of the week!

Reagan attended her first high school dance and since it was Homecoming weekend, Bennett even came home for the weekend. It was so nice to have him home for the weekend.

Early last month, I took my mom out to Denver visit my niece and her new baby, my mom’s newest great-grandchild. We had a much too short visit but loved every moment of the baby snuggles, the mountain views, and quality family time.

Now on to the books! Last month I had mostly children’s books but this month I have more adult fiction and non-fiction. This month starts a crazy season for me with subbing nearly every day until Thanksgiving break. I’m hoping I can still get a lot of reading in and I’ll try to keep up with my regular posting, but if I go quiet for a bit, that will be why. If you have missed any of my recent book reviews, you can see all of them by clicking, HERE. Or you can stay up to date with my monthly Quick Lit Roundup.

If you choose to make a purchase through any of the links I may receive a small commission without you having to pay a cent more for your purchase.

THE LIGHT OVER LONDON

By: Julia Kelly

Published: January 8, 2019 (original) September 24, 2019 (paperback)

Publisher: Gallery Books

Historical Fiction

Format: Paperback

Another present-day connecting to the past storyline that I usually love. Tying it into WWII also makes it a good bet that I’ll love it.

It’s always been easier for Cara Hargraves to bury herself in the past than confront the present, which is why working with a gruff but brilliant antiques dealer is perfect. While clearing out an estate, she pries open an old tin that holds the relics of a lost relationship: among the treasures, a World War II-era diary and a photograph of a young woman in uniform. Eager to find the author of the hauntingly beautiful, unfinished diary, Cara digs into this soldier’s life, but soon realizes she may not have been ready for the stark reality of wartime London she finds within the pages.

In 1941, nineteen-year-old Louise Keene’s life had been decided for her—she’ll wait at home in her Cornish village until her wealthy suitor returns from war to ask for her hand. But when Louise unexpectedly meets Flight Lieutenant Paul Bolton, a dashing RAF pilot stationed at a local base, everything changes. And changes again when Paul’s unit is deployed without warning.

Desperate for a larger life, Louise joins the women’s branch of the British Army in the anti-aircraft gun unit as a Gunner Girl. As bombs fall on London, she and the other Gunner Girls relish in their duties to be exact in their calculations, and quick in their identification of enemy planes during air raids. The only thing that gets Louise through those dark, bullet-filled nights is knowing she and Paul will be together when the war is over. But when a bundle of her letters to him are returned unanswered, she learns that wartime romance can have a much darker side.

Illuminating the story of these two women separated by generations and experience, Julia Kelly transports us to World War II London in this heartbreakingly beautiful novel through forgotten antique treasures, remembered triumphs, and fierce family ties.

FIREWALL

An Emma Streat Mystery

By: Eugenia Lovett West

Published: November 5, 2019

Publisher: SparkPress

Mystery

Format: Paperback

I’ve never heard of this author or series. It sounds like an intriguing mystery.

Former opera singer Emma Streat has survived the murder of her husband and the destruction of her beautiful old house. Now a full-time single mother, she struggles to move forward and make a home for her two sons. Because of her detection skills, she has become a go-to person for help–so, when her rich, feisty, socialite godmother is blackmailed, she turns immediately to Emma. Soon, Emma founds herself thrust into the dark world of cybercrime. Mounting challenges take her to exclusive European settings where she mixes with top people in the financial and art collecting worlds and has intriguing and emotion-packed experiences with men–including her dynamic ex-lover, Lord Andrew Rodale. When she is targeted by a cybercrime network using cutting-edge technology, it takes all of Emma’s resilience and wits to survive and bring the wily, ruthless criminal she’s hunting to justice. Action-packed and full of twists and turns, this third book of the Emma Streat Mystery series does not disappoint!

BLACK & BLUE

Love, Sports, and the Art of Empowerment

By: Andra Douglas

Published: July 6, 2019

Publisher: BookBaby

Format: Paperback

In the Deep South, football is a religion and even as a young girl, Christine dearly loved the game. Her passion to play, not just watch, was apparent. But even by the time she reached her teens, society’s message that women are second-class citizens – and the South’s particular interpretation of that — had seeped in. She chafed at what the South told her she should be – the classic belle, demure, deferential, yielding to men — versus what she knew or dreamed she was capable of being: fearless, inquisitive, strong, accepting life’s every challenge with poise, determined to be a success.

‘Black & Blue’ is the book about what happens during her poignant, often hilarious, sometimes discouraging but ultimately successful and profound journey from her small-town beginnings to New York City, where she moves sight unseen with encouragement from her mother and aunt to attend Pratt Institute and pursue her artistic talents. It’s a book about coming of age, and the vivid characters who touch Christine along the way, starting with her father, who never had a son and coddled her love for things Southern girls weren’t “supposed” to do, and her grandmother, who knew firsthand how the South could suffocate nonconforming girls and encouraged Christine to be herself with some quietly rebellious (and subversively funny) shows of solidarity, like taking Christine to buy her first football.

This book is also a backstage insight into a world few people know much about — the wild west world of women’s pro football, where shysters abounded in the early days of the game and the array of women who play tackle football come to the sport for their own reasons, same as Christine did. In some ways this book is A League of Their Own meets Semi-Tough.

When the unexpected dream opportunity to finally play tackle football comes along, Christine purchases the New York franchise in a grass-roots women’s pro league because the team is in danger of folding. The responsibility of owning a sports franchise, however, is overwhelming. Christine’s longtime partner ultimately leaves her and Christine’s family is critical of her devotion to the club. Even the team’s players second-guess her decisions and motives at one point. She is painfully reminded of childhood and retreats inward, leaving her infighting team to fend for itself as she battles some dark questions until something more devastating happens.

Sarah, a close friend and popular teammate, is killed in a car accident on Christmas Day. Christine, dogged now by memories of how Sarah had so much she still intended to do, begins a voyage to re-empower herself and regain her lost passion and belief. Along with her surprised players, Christine and the Sharks embark on a rollicking quest for the national title that is ostensibly about football. But it’s a meditation, too, about how being different requires of all of them to examine themselves and choices they’ve made.

THIS TENDER LAND

By: William Kent Krueger

Published: September 3, 2019

Publisher: Atria Books

Fiction

Format: Hardcover

I’m a huge William Kent Kruger fan. I had the privilege of meeting him and talking for a bit in 2008 when he came to our local library. Then he came to another local library again in 2013 after he published ORDINARY GRACE. He is as delightful as you would imagine. Very humble and funny. His newest book is at the top of my pile as soon as I finish a couple of books that are on a deadline. I purchased my copy from Book of the Month.

1932, Minnesota—the Lincoln School is a pitiless place where hundreds of Native American children, forcibly separated from their parents, are sent to be educated. It is also home to an orphan named Odie O’Banion, a lively boy whose exploits earn him the superintendent’s wrath. Forced to flee, he and his brother Albert, their best friend Mose, and a brokenhearted little girl named Emmy steal away in a canoe, heading for the mighty Mississippi and a place to call their own.

Over the course of one unforgettable summer, these four orphans will journey into the unknown and cross paths with others who are adrift, from struggling farmers and traveling faith healers to displaced families and lost souls of all kinds. With the feel of a modern classic, This Tender Land is an en­thralling, big-hearted epic that shows how the magnificent American landscape connects us all, haunts our dreams, and makes us whole.

SHE PRAYS

A 31-Day Journey to Confident conversations with God

By: Debbie Lindell

Published: October 1, 2019

Publisher: Revell Books

Non-Fiction/Devotional/Christian

Format: Paperback

I’m reading this one now since it is a 31-day devotional and there are 31 days this month. Each day is about 6 pages long and ends with space for you to journal your thoughts on that day’s topic.

One of the most wonderful things about walking with God is that we can have an intimate and real relationship with him. He wants us to know him so well that we are comfortable talking to him about anything and everything. Yet, there are times when we feel disconnected and insecure. We desire to grow in prayer, but we don’t know where to begin, what to say, or how to listen for his voice.

In She Prays, Debbie Lindell invites you on a 31-day journey to experience a confident and conversational relationship with your heavenly Father. She shows you how to replace the pressure to perform in prayer with a faith-filled expectation–trusting that God is delighted with every conversation and every word we whisper to him. Her desire is that your soul will be transformed as your confidence in prayer grows, and that your faith will be strengthened as you see God work through your prayers in ways you never imagined possible.

Bestselling author Holley Gerth feels like your best friend, your supportive sister, and your biggest cheerleader. She understands that you want to be a woman who looks life in the face and says, “You can’t beat me.” A woman who knows love is a risk and reaches out anyway. A woman who understands kindness takes real courage. Who doesn’t fake it or try to hide her scars. Who fights to believe she is who God says she is and helps others do the same.

Strong, Brave, Loved offers 60 short devotions to empower you to be that kind of woman. It’s simple, personal, and practical, with room for you to journal your own responses and reflections. With these concise and compassionate devotions, Holley leads you on a journey of discovery as you learn to live in freedom, hope, and holy courage.

FLYING ALONE

A Memoir

By: Beth Ruggiero York

Published: September 11, 2019

Publisher: Beth Ruggiero York

Non-Fiction/Memoir

Format: Paperback

This sounds like an empowering memoir.

At thirteen years old, Elizabeth Ruggiero’s heart was broken when her father died suddenly. But there was a bigger challenge ahead when doctors told her she probably had multiple sclerosis at 22 years old. Elizabeth vowed that this new challenge would not put restrictions on her life and embarked on a lifelong dream to fly for the airlines. Starting at the small local airport, the aviation world swallowed her whole, and the next five years of her life were as turbulent as an airplane in a thunderstorm, never knowing when, how or if she would emerge. An agonizing love affair with her flight instructor, dangerous risks in the sky and flying broken airplanes for shady companies all intertwined to define her road to the airlines. Elizabeth made it to her goal and was hired by Trans World Airlines in 1989. Flying Alone is told with soul-baring candor, taking readers on a suspenseful journey through the terror, romance and ultimate victory of those years.

SEVEN SUNDAYS

A Faith, Fitness, and Food Plan for Lasting Spiritual and Physical Change

By: Alec Penix

Published: December 4, 2019 (original) October 15, 2019 (paperback)

Publisher: Howard Books

Non-Fiction/Health

Format: Paperback

I reviewed this book already when it came out in hardcover, HERE. It is now available in paperback.

In Seven Sundays, celebrity trainer and devoted follower of Christ Alec Penix explains the connection between faith and fitness, and shares both his own and his clients’ success stories. When our spiritual and physical bodies are built up simultaneously, we find ourselves more likely to stick with healthier, life-changing habits, appreciate what we have, be thankful for what we’ve gained (and lost), and feel content with how far we’ve traveled.

Seven Sundays is a six-week program that shows you how easy it is to undergo your own total transformation. The book is organized as a day-by-day journey in the same manner as a daily devotional. Over the course of each week, you will work on the “6 Pillars of Purpose” that build up this strength. You will also enjoy “Faith-Full” foods and explore a new spiritual theme each week. Ultimately, you’ll undertake a meaningful journey that will finally connect your body and spirit.

Seven Sundays is sure to “inspire people to become the best version of themselves, through strengthening their body, mind, and spirit” (Roma Downey, actress, producer, and New York Times bestselling author of Box of Butterflies). You’ll learn to embrace the fact that you deserve to exercise, eat right, and be healthy, and recognize your body as a spiritual vessel.

Well, I am not looking to conceive now or in my future. I am many years beyond that point in my life. But, for couples that are having infertility issues, this looks to be a helpful book with an approach that may be different from regular medical advice.

The stress of trying to conceive can wreak havoc with a couple’s intimate relationship; the stress, shame, and blame they often feel can have a harmful effect and reduce their chances of conceiving. In Conceiving with Love, Traditional Chinese Medicine specialist Denise Wiesner gives couples the tools they need to repair their sexual relationship, rebuild their self-confidence, and reclaim the intimacy that sparked their desire to have a child in the first place. Wiesner’s integrative East-meets-West approach, developed over twenty years of practice, has helped thousands of couples reconnect–and conceive. Wiesner includes advice from leading experts in Western reproductive medicine and Traditional Chinese Medicine; sensual practices from yoga, qigong, and Tantra; and answers questions couples have about sex, intimacy, and fertility–naturally occurring or medically assisted.

MY CREATIVE SPACE

How to Design Your Home to Stimulate Ideas and Spark Innovation

By: Donald M. Rattner

Published: October 15, 2019

Publisher: Skyhorse

Non-Fiction

Format: Paperback

This is more of a curiosity book for me. We have remodeled every room of our home except our bedroom and master bath. So, I likely won’t be changing much of our main part of the house, but I’m hoping for some ideas for our bedroom and bath.

A great deal of psychological and productivity research has gone into discovering how the design of the physical environment can improve creative performance, yet nearly all of it has focused on the workplace, commercial spaces, and schools. What has been largely overlooked is the one place we spend more time in than anywhere else and where more people than ever are now working: the home. My Creative Space shows how readers can boost their creative output by applying science-backed techniques to the design and decoration of their home regardless of size, type, style, or location.

With over 200 stunning color photographs of creative spaces, including many designed by top architects and interior decorators, this lavishly produced book will inspire readers while offering practical and specific ways to transform your own home into a creative haven.

Readers will:

Learn practical techniques to shape a home for peak idea generationAcquire insights into how everyday activities at home can boost creative performance at work, play, and school

Discover hands-on household products designed to foster creative skillsGain a new understanding of the meaning and psychology of creativityRead about the best lighting to foster a creative environment, how to use walls to capture ideas, why round shapes spur greater creativity than straight lines, the benefits of incorporating nature into your surroundings, and more.

Whether you’re an artist, design professional, writer, entrepreneur, work in a creative industry, or pursue a personal passion for pleasure, this book is an invaluable guide for turning living space into creative space.

HEATING & COOLING

52 Micro-Memoirs

By: Beth Ann Fennelly

Published: October 10, 2017

Publisher: W. W. Norton and Company

Non-Fiction/Memoir

Format: eBook

This one had been on my list and it came in as a Kindle Deal, so I snagged it since it hasn’t been available through our library.

The 52 micro-memoirs in genre-defying Heating Cooling offer bright glimpses into a richly lived life, combining the compression of poetry with the truth-telling of nonfiction into one heartfelt, celebratory book. Ranging from childhood recollections to quirky cultural observations, these micro-memoirs build on one another to arrive at a portrait of Beth Ann Fennelly as a wife, mother, writer, and deeply original observer of life’s challenges and joys.

Some pieces are wistful, some wry, and many reveal the humor buried in our everyday interactions. Heating Cooling: 52 Micro-Memoirs shapes a life from unexpectedly illuminating moments, and awakens us to these moments as they appear in the margins of our lives.

Even though this isn’t a reading book, I wanted to share it here. Ally is a fellow Iowa blogger and I want to help support her by sharing her new meal planner here. To find out more and order this helpful little planner, click HERE. See below what Ally says about her book:

What do you think of when someone says bread & butter? Do you immediately taste the spongy loaf and the salty, creamy butter? I do. I can taste all the richness. Both go together like socks and shoes.

They are a team.

Bread is the practicalities of life (schedules, work, mortgages), but the butter is what makes your life full (your children’s laughter, hearty soups on a chilly night, Friday night football games, a crisp glass of wine on your back porch). The bread is okay by itself, but adding butter makes for the most delicious life. Bread will sustain us and hold us up, it will wake us up each morning to our various responsibilities, but does it fill us up? No. But when you add the butter to that bread, life gets real. Life turns into a wonderful roller coaster of happiness.

Life becomes full.

I created this meal planner, shopping list and recipe book because frankly I needed one for myself (and because no publisher would sign me). I wanted something that I could tuck into my purse when on the run, especially at the grocery store. Something to keep our busy life organized and my family members happy! It’s a great space to jot ideas, keep a running list of needed items and find meal ideas for when your brain has turned to mush.

I hope this book gets carried with you to all your “butter” events. I cannot wait to see photos of it as you’re waiting for baseball games to start or it sitting on your kitchen table while you plan out your week’s dinners.

~ Ally

COCKTAILS MADE SIMPLE

Easy & Delicious Recipes for the Home Bartender

By: Brian Weber and Amin Benny

Published: October 15, 2019

Publisher: Rockridge Press

Non-Fiction/Cookbook

Format: Paperback

I’m not very knowledgeable about cocktails and I hate to try something for the first time at a bar or restaurant when I’m paying $8-$10 a glass. This is a way to try out some fun cocktails like a Mint Julep or a Tom Collins or a Mojito at home.

Give bartending a shot―become a master mixologist

Are you looking for an exciting way to entertain? Cocktails Made Simple sets you up for success, showing you how to craft 40 iconic cocktails in the comforts of your own home.From finding the right glass to a flaming peel finish, learn how to build a functional home bar using cost-effective tips on the essential tools to mix with―and familiar alternatives to make the most of what you have on hand.

Cocktails Made Simple includes:

Old-fashioned origins―Dive into the art of crafting cocktails with terms to know and tools of the trade.That’s the spirit―Stock your home bar and enhance everyday ingredients using simple techniques.Aperitif to digestif―Sip your way through recipes for 40 traditional cocktails categorized by spirit, as well as a brief history of each drink and tasty twists.

Shake things up and elevate your entertaining game with Cocktails Made Simple. Cheers!

STARTER SOURDOUGH

The Step-by-Step Guide to Sourdough Starters

Baking Loaves, Baguettes, Pancakes, and More

By: Carroll Pellegrinelli

Published: October 15, 2019

Publisher: Rockridge Press

Non-Fiction/Cookbook

Format: Paperback

Yeast and I don’t get along very well. I am extremely intimidated by yeast and making bread. But, I want to learn. I have a bread machine and have had some success, but also some failures. I’m anxious to try making sourdough and maybe even keeping a starter alive!

Easy sourdough starter—for flawless finished bread.For perfect sourdough bread, you need a healthy and happy starter—that yeasty concoction that gives sourdough its tangy, delicious flavor. Starter Sourdough helps you get the tricky starter process down pat, so you can have mouthwatering loaves, rolls, baguettes—and even cakes and cookies!

This guide simplifies the process of making your own starter so it’s accessible to anyone, no matter your skill level. Keep your tasty new creation alive and thriving with the help of clear instructions accompanied by beautiful photographs. Then try your hand at baking Perfect Italian Sourdough, Sourdough Marble Rye Bread, Double Piecrust, Sourdough Pretzels, Sourdough Cinnamon-Sugar Doughnuts, and more.

THE PEGAN DIET FOR BEGINNERS

A 14-Day Weight Loss Meal Plan with Over 50 Easy Recipes

By: Amelia Levin

Published: October 1, 2019

Publisher: Rockridge Press

Non-Fiction/Cookbook

Format: Paperback

This arrived during my September Whole30 and I made a connection with the concept of eating Pegan. I’m anxious to try several of the recipes in this cookbook.

Do you love healthy dishes that feature organic whole foods? Looking to drop pounds and feel better while still loving mealtime? Then The Complete Pegan Diet for Beginners is the perfect introduction to a new way of eating.

Ditch the refined and processed ingredients and reawaken your taste buds to the vibrant flavors of fresh foods that will satisfy your hunger and leave you feeling more energized. This total guide to Pegan dining makes it easy with a collection of great-tasting recipes, plus a handy meal plan to make sure you’re starting out on the right path.

SOMETHING IS BUGGING SAMANTHA HANSEN

By: Nancy Viau

Published: August 28, 2019

Publisher: Schiffer Kids

Fiction

Format: Hardcover

First of all, this book is gorgeous. I also love the synopsis. I can’t wait to read it! I’ve shared a Nancy Viau book for younger kids, HERE.

Ten-year-old Samantha Hansen loves science! In the beginning of fourth grade, she never let a moment go by without talking about rocks. Now she’s back with a new obsession: insects! Upon learning that the local apiary is for sale, she goes into action to save the honey bees. Will her someday boyfriend Todd or her best friend Kelli be part of her plan? Will That Kid Richard get in the way? Sam’s lists of insect facts and funny thoughts highlight her quest to keep the bees in the community, the challenges she faces at school, and her ongoing struggle with her temper. Join Samantha as she looks to science for answers and does her part to change the world.

DARE TO WRITE

Creative Writing Prompts for Young People and Word Rebels Everywhere

By: Kristen Fogle

Published: October 15, 2019

Publisher: Rockridge Press

Non-Fiction

Format: Paperback

I am so excited about this book. Our daughter loves to write and this could be a fun book for her to use prompts to inspire creativity.

What story do you have inside? Is it a romance, a drama, a fantasy…or all three? Dare to Write is here to inspire you with a huge variety of writing prompts, plot beginnings, and thought-provoking ideas. Scribble directly in the book or use your own notebook―the right way is however you want to write.

You’re invited to capture your thoughts and feelings using these writing prompts. Dare to dive into the character worksheets, topic brainstorms, or three-minute challenges and see what unfolds. You can crack open any chapter you like, or start with the first writing prompts in the book.Dare to Write: Creative Writing Prompts for Young People and Word Rebels Everywhere includes:

A genre buffet―Try a taste of any of the included genres: memoir, poetry, crime fiction, romance, or fantasy/science fiction.Refresher inside―A handy intro and strategic writing tips help you brush up on basics like characterization, setting the scene, and more.Something for everyone―This is YOUR story! No matter what type of writer you are, you’ll find creative writing prompts to inspire your composition.

Pick up the writing prompts in Dare to Write―your imagination will take it from here.

AMERICAN TRAILBLAZERS

50 Remarkable People Who Shaped U.S. History

By: Lisa Trusiani

Published: October 8, 2019

Publisher: Rockridge Press

Non-Fiction

Format: Paperback

I love these kinds of compilation books. I always learn something new. Just skimming this one, the layout makes this quick and easy for kids to read and the tip at the end of each person’s bio offers a way kids can be a trailblazer.

Are you ready to read about daring deeds and world-changing events? Meet the American Trailblazers, diverse historical and modern figures who accomplished incredible things. History books for kids age 9-12 should include a range of people and stories–here you’ll learn about the greats in sports, civil rights, art, science, and more.

Explore each person’s groundbreaking life and find the details of their work in the vibrant illustrations. Unlike other history books for kids age 9-12, American Trailblazers also includes activities and tips for exploring more online.

WHEN I PRAY FOR YOU

By: Matthew Paul Turner

Illustrated by: Kimberley Barnes

Published: February 19, 2019

Publisher: Convergent Books

Non-Fiction

Format: Hardcover Picture Book

This book was on a deep discount this month so I snagged several to give as Christmas gifts to my great-nieces and nephew. It’s a beautifully illustrated and heartfelt way to share love…and for me….across the miles.

From the author of the best-selling When God Made You comes a new illuminating message about God’s design affirming young readers.

With lyricism, whimsy, and heartfelt emotion, Matthew Paul Turner reveals the tender emotions connected with watching a beloved child grow up and experience the world. Paired with Kimberley Barnes’s vivid and playful illustrations, When I Pray for You is a beautifully affirming book, in which children and parents will see their own stories come to life.

When I Pray for You celebrates the dreams, hopes, and longings parents pray over their children, and shares with the little ones how much care and concern a loved one feels for them.

HUMANIMAL

Incredible Ways Animals are Just Like Us!

By: Christopher Lloyd

Illustrated by: Mark Ruffle

Published: October 10, 2019

Publisher: What On Earth Books

Non-Fiction

Format: Hardcover

I’m always amazed when I’m watching nature programs on tv, how some animals have such human-like characteristics. This book looks so interesting!

From author of Absolutely Everything Christopher Lloyd comes a fascinating book uncovering the curious connections between humans and other animals. So you think you’re special? You think that just because people have built giant cities, invented pop-up toasters and put a person on the Moon that they are somehow different from other living things? Well it’s time to think again! Humanimal shows the inextricable interconnections of the human and animal worlds in ways you never before imagined… Inside you will discover how slime moulds can solve how to navigate through a maze; how rats tickle and laugh out loud; how elephants have funerals for their lost loved ones; how bees vote in elections to decide where to locate their nests; how crows use cars to crack nuts and a whole lot more! This oversized, richly illustrated, mesmerising exploration shows that humans and other animals don’t just live on the same planet, they also share many of the same patterns of behaviour, making us all fellow players in the drama that is life on Earth.

5-MINUTE STORIES

By: Margaret Wise Brown

Published: September 3, 2019

Publisher: Silver Dolphin Books

Fiction

Format: Hardcover

Such a wonderful book perfect for gifting this upcoming holiday season. Short stories by the much-loved Margaret Wise Brown, perfect for pre-nap or bedtime reading.

This beautifully illustrated, magical story collection from best-selling author Margaret Wise Brown—creator of the children’s classics Goodnight Moon and The Runaway Bunny—will enchant children and parents alike. With eight stories that can each be read in about five minutes, it’s a perfect collection to read to your little one before bed or any time!

HOW WINSTON DELIVERED CHRISTMAS

An Advent Story in Twenty-Four-And-A-Half Chapters

By: Alex T. Smith

Published: September 17, 2019

Publisher: Silver Dolphin

Fiction

Format: Hardcover

This is one of those books that can be passed down for generations. A short story a day right up until Christmas and a craft to go with the story. I can’t wait to read it myself.

Winston the mouse is on a Very Important Mission. On Christmas Eve, he finds a letter to Father Christmas that did not make it to the post box – so, with no time to lose, he sets out to deliver it himself in time for Christmas Day! He has a lot of Very Exciting Adventures on his Very Important Mission and makes some wonderful friends along the way.

Each chapter includes it’s very own festive activity for all the family to enjoy together – including writing a letter to Father Christmas, making mince pies, designing your very own Christmas cards, making presents, creating decorations, and so much more!